Well casing



Dec. 12, 1939; v

E. F. DQOLEY WELL CASING Original Filed Jan. 13, 1936 3mm ,EDwARDr-tpooLEY' Patented Dec. 12, 1939 "i'l N lT-ED STATES PATENT OFFICE "Original application January '13, 1936, Serial No. 58,971. Divided and this application July "27, 1938, Serial No. 221,588

3 Claims.

This application relates to a perforated casing for use in'wells. The present application constitutes a division of my prior co-pending application Serial Number 58,971, filed January 13, "5 l936, which became Patent No. 2,129,570 on September 6, 1938. I I

Briefly, the invention contemplates a perforated well casing of the type suggested that is characterized'by the-power to resist such degenerati-ve natural influences as rust and-electrolysis.

Also, a'perforated casingembodying the invention will be found'to be marked by the presence of -a plurality of longitudinally and circumferentiallyextending members which serve not only to strengthen and reinforce the casing but which provide a gating in which there is a quick and easy flow of the metal from which the casing is molded and in this way, the casting operation is facilitated and an improved product is achieved.

By way of further brief preliminary allusion tothe longitudinally and circumferentially extending members which strengthen the casing, it might be pointed out that the arrangement of the same enables the casing to resist buckling, when being driven into place in deep wells, and to with stand external pressures created by cave-ins and by the surrounding formation.

In speaking briefly of the manner in which the longitudinally and circumferentially extending strengthening members assist in the casting operation, reference is made to the fact that the same provide for the expeditious filling of the mold and, while filling, to create as little disturbance as possible in the metal.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a perforated well casing embodying the invention, a part of the casing being broken away.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view, in side elevation, and taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

In the drawing, the numeral 26 generally designates a hollow cylindrical casing especially adapted for use in water wells and which, as is important to observe, is cast from gray iron.

In certain parts of the country, due to the mineral content of well water and to the nature of the formations encountered in wells, the provision of a durable and efiicient perforated casing for wells is-a matter of considerable interest and. concern. Perforated galvanized steel casings have been found to be highly susceptible to 'th'edel'eterious effects of rust and'e'lectrolysis. This is due in a large measure to the refined nature of the metal. Cement casings have a tendency to crumble and collapse under the pressure of cavey andother'subterranean formations. However, it

has been found that by casting the perforated 1 closed herein, it will not buckle when being-driven into 51m in deep wells 'or collapse under such forces as cave-"ins and the pressure of the surrounding formation.

In Figure 1, the perforated casing is shown to consist of a lower end band 24, a plurality of longitudinally spaced, intermediate, circumferentially extending bands 26 and an upper band 28. Clearly, the upper band 28 is of an external diameter to fit snugly within the lower end band 24 of a meeting section or in some other part of the fluid conduit of a well.

Of course, the bands 24, 26 and 28 are all positioned about a common axis and as clearly illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3, such bands are intersected and joined by a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending major strips or members 39. In carrying out the invention, the portions of metal between the circumferentially extending bands and the longitudinally extending strips 30 are longitudinally slotted as indicated at 34. The slots-define circumferentially and longitudinally spaced groups of longitudinally extending minor strips 36 between the major strips 38. In other words, the circumferentially extending bands 24, 26 and 28 cooperate with the longitudinally extending strips 30 in the formation of a rigid and stout framework between which the groups of spaced strips 36 are located for the admission of fluid to the casing.

As previously suggested, the casing 20 has the power to resist buckling while being installed and at the same time is enabled to resist external pressures. These attributes are accounted for by'the presence and arrangement of the annuli 24, 26 and 28 and the longitudinally extending members 3i], all of these parts being substantially stouter than the minor strips 36 that are surrounded by these major members.

By reference to Figure 2, it will be seen that the minor longitudinally extending strips 36 are increased in cross-section radially outward to provide maximum strength, in combination with generously proportioned openings for fluid while at the same time facilitating manufacture.

From Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that although the spaced circumferentially extending reinforcing bands 24, 26 and 28 have a greater wall thickness than the longitudinally extending strips 30 and 36, the outer surfaces of such bands are flush with the corresponding surfaces of the strips to avoid protruding ribs or other projections on the exterior of the casing which might interfere with the introduction of the casing into a well. That is to say, the reinforcing bands are flush with the outer surfaces of the strips 30 and 36, to provide a casing having a smooth external surface, but project radially inward beyond the inner surfaces of the strips to give the required strength.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the manufacture of the well casing from cast iron provides the power to resist the deleterious infiuences encountered in wells in various parts of the country, while the presence of the bands 24, 26 and 28 and the union of these bands with the longitudinally extending members 30 provide the strength necessary to withstand buckling and external pressures, and at the same time, such members 24, 26, 28, and 30 look to expeditious, simplified and less costly manufacture through providing a place for the gate.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed is:

1. A perforated casing for wells comprising a one-piece hollow cylindrical body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced, longitudinally extending members and longitudinally spaced,

circumferentially extending bands united at spaced points with said longitudinally extending members, said body being provided between said circumferentially and longitudinally extending members with slots spaced from each other less 5 than the widths of said longitudinally extending members and defining minor longitudinally extending strips terminating at said circumferentially extending bands, said longitudinally extending members being in alignment. 1

2. A perforated metal well casing comprising a one-piece tubular body having a plurality of circumferentially spaced longitudinally extending strengthening members and longitudinally spaced circumferentially extending reinforcing 1 bands united with said longitudinally extending members with the outer surfaces thereof flush with the outer surfaces of said longitudinally extending members to provide a casing having a smooth external surface, said reinforcing bands being of greater thickness than said longitudinally extending members and projecting radially inward beyond the inner surfaces of said longitudinally extending members.

3. A perforated metal well casing comprising a one-piece cylindrical body having a plurality of longitudinally spaced unbroken annular bands, and a plurality of annular series of spaced longitudinally extending members integrally united at their ends with said bands, the longitudinally 3 extending members at uniformly spaced points about the circumference of said body being of greater width than the intervening longitudinally extending members, said wide longitudinal members being in alignment. 3

EDWARD F. DOOLEY. 

